February 16, 2012

If you have been reading my Blog you know by now that we have a wonderful Cockapoo named Copper and that he is not only handsome, but also very smart.

And since my diagnosis of Breast Cancer Mets to the Bone, I've noticed changes in his behavior. For example:

He stays with me more and watches me very intently. This is not unusual behavior for dogs... Studies have been done showing dogs know when their owner is sick with cancer.

But, here is what makes me laugh in awe:

Whenever I call out "Bob" for something, Copper (who is lying on the bed with me) will immediately sit up and give out one loud, sharp bark. If Bob does not answer within a minute, well too bad for Bob 'cuz then Head Nurse Copper will jump off the bed and into the hallway and bark once again. Only this time, louder and sharper. He will then stand there waiting for Bob to respond. If for some reason Bob does not acknowledge Copper's command of "Come quickly. Mama needs you!" he will go to wherever Bob is and repeatedly bark until Bob comes to ask me what I need.

Copper will watch us as we talk and when he feels assured that everything is okay he will lie down and go back to sleep.

The whole routine reminds me of the old TV show "Lassie" when the Collie runs into the kitchen barking at Timmy's folks. The usual translation is something like "Come quickly, Timmy's in the well."

Although I'm not in the well yet, it warms my heart that this little puppy (7 years old) loves me and makes sure I'm okay.

April 30, 2011

It has happened. I'm addicted to tv news. Well, not any old tv news. The most outstanding news (IMHO) is msnbc news. It is mainly liberal biased, which of course means they tell us the truth. Well, Rachel Maddow does.

As part of watching the news from my bed (the bedroom has the largest and bestess tv in the house) I also can now surf the web, look up stuff and play games on my newly purchased IPad2.

When I first received my IPad2 I felt it was, despite all the hype, a bit lackluster. I don't really play games all that much (ok, sometimes a lot, when I'm clearing my mind or in deep thought). But, after peeking into different apps and exploring more and more each day, I have to enthusiasticly say... it is one of the most wonderful gadgets created.

Speaking of enthusiasm, you might find it difficult to REALLY know how I'm feeling when I'm writing. I mean, you can't see me after all. You might be able to tell by my writing, the words and punctuation I use, but you still can't see me. You're at a disadvantage.

Even if you could see me, would you really know how I was feeling? I was thinking about this the other day. Society has given us a face of unspoken truth. People ask us how we feel. Most will respond "Okay." Perhaps with a smile. You might get a "Pretty good." But, you won't get, or not very often, "I'm terrible and the world pretty much sucks."

That's why I love our dog Copper. And perhaps why we all love our pets. They don't lie or beat around the bush. They, on the other hand, often stare at us with their deep penetrating eyes, trying to figure us out.

There is no need for me to figure out if Copper is happy and well. His tail. His tail tells only the truth.

March 03, 2011

Once we told Copper that he was in fact a very smart dog (a family tradition) he began talking to us.

As smart as he is, however, he does not speak English. He speaks one language, just as we do. He speaks "dog" and we speak "people." And so we try our best to speak in a way we can understand each other.

Copper has always barked. Sometimes it's a warning bark and other times it's simply a "hey, look at me, I need your attention." As I've written before, he is a "watch" dog, rather than a "guard" dog, and he does he job very well. Maybe, too well.

He has increased his vocabulary to include: moaning, whining, purring, and other melodic sounds at various decibels. Sometimes he precedes these sounds with a short, sharp bark. Translation: "Listen up. I'm going to tell you something."

My method of translating the sounds following the "listen up" bark is to make a mental check of what has preceded the bark. For example: when was last meal, last potty break, last drink of water, last time he was petted. I will ask him what he wants: "Do you want to PEE?" " Do you want to EAT?" "Do you want Water?" "Do you want a TOY?"

He understands me and those key words. When I ask the right question he will usually jump up or make some other quick movement and a little bark. After his needs are met he resumes his peaceful self and usually takes a nap (a trait he adopted from the Chief).

Lately, after he has been fed, Copper returns and begins to "talk" to us again. I listen, knowing he has just gone out, eaten and given fresh water. So, I decided that I would try giving him more food. He came back after a few minutes and went to sleep. When I checked his food bowl I could see that he had taken one or two bites, but left the rest.

I thought about this. And, being a worrier myself, I recognized that his new behavior was driven by anxiety. High anxiety. He wants to make sure he has food immediately available. He worries if there isn't any food in his bowl. He doesn't eat it all. He just wants to see it there, to know it's there, to know he isn't going to "run out."

December 02, 2010

A few people noticed I stopped writing. Thank you. My computer crashed from viruses. In case any of you have not experienced this, I have now crashed twice. Let me explain.

My mom asked if I should just buy another computer. Well, not really. I have a friend who fixes these crashes. But, even with backup, you pretty much have to build up the computer just like you've been doing the last year or so doing before the crash. So, unless the hard drive is killed, or worse, there isn't any reason to buy a new computer. Unless, of course, it's time for a new one anyway.

Most everything we experience should provide us with at least one learning point. This time around I've learned that computers should be turned off when not in use. Especially overnight, 'cause while you're sleeping the viruses are eating up your data and programs. Even if your computer goes into a "sleep" mode. They do this very quietly so as not to wake you up. But, they do it none the less.

Bad people send out viruses because, well, because they can and they're bad people. The attacks come into our computer through various means: worms, trojans, etc. They come in attached to something else, like maybe the chain letters we all receive. The trojans skip by safe guards because they are like the Trojan Horse - the outside is great, but dangers are hidden inside. Worms kind of tunnel in and once deep inside start to devour everything.

More News...

The Chief and I have been watching the news lately. This is something we have not done for a long time. Why? It's depressing. And, we get our news on-line.

But we recently discovered MSNBC: Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, and Lawrence O'Donnell. After that we go to the Comedy channel and watch Jon Stewart and then The Colbert Report. Whew!

In the photo at the top of this post is our super-dog Copper. Copper watches from his place on our bed the same things we do. His now VERY long bangs are intended to send us a message: "I can't watch this political stuff anymore!"

Hmm. I wonder what his reaction to watching Fox would be. We'll never know, because then I would have to hide under my covers with my pillow over my head, and my fingers stuck in my ears.

April 30, 2010

Have I mentioned our dog Copper? Well, here he is again. A sweet cock-a-poo who will be seven this year.

We were collectors of all things old and/or primitive. The red coal bucket you see was immediately put into service as Copper's Toy "Box" when he first arrived. The toys have multiplied since, much like rabbits.

Now Copper is not a brave dog. And he has his quirks. But we love him and he is loyal to a fault.

His lack of courage was noticed in many ways as he grew up and older. If something he wanted rolled behind a door or under a chair, he was not, no how, no way, going to put his nose into what must have been a very scary dark place. We would eventually have to get it for him.

Similarly, if he thought there was danger outside he'd bark until we'd go check it out, and he would follow us. He is never on "point" in that situation.

He was also afraid to get his toys out of the bucket. We would take out a toy for him for play time. That has been the case until this past year.

Don't have a clue what happened, but one day he actually, very slowly, poked his nose into the bucket and retrieved a toy! The Chief and I were amazed. I don't think we'll ever know what changed his mind.

But, the really neat thing is, now that he has found his courage, he realizes he has a choice. A choice of toys. He will poke his nose in, move some of the toys around until he finds the one that he wants.

Most of the his toys have a name: ball, baby, shoe, lufa and so on. Sometimes we'll say to him "Copper, where's lufa?" And he goes to the bucket, moves stuff around and comes out with lufa. "What a good boy."

April 15, 2010

You've seen this pix before on my blog. I have to confess we bought Copper when he was 8 weeks old. Our dog previous to him was a dach-si-poo (spelling?). We got him from an animal shelter. He was black and looked like a cock-a-poo except for a longer body and VERY short legs.

Anyway, when I came across these videos I was very moved. And hope you will be too and perhaps pass them on. Our pets give us so much unconditional love we are better humans for having them.

January 24, 2010

Consumer Reports is something I follow every day on my Yahoo! homepage. I was especially interested in this research. Just ask the grandkids or the Chief about eating slower. This is something I preach when given half a chance.

I even go so far as to tell them they should be putting their fork back down on the plate after each bite. Or, if you're eating with your fingers (hamburgers, etc) put the food down. This really helps reduce the "shoveling" of food into your mouth as if you were digging a ditch. My recollection is that there is about a 20 minute delay from when you are "full" to when you "feel full." I think this tendency to "shovel" is a natural instinct left over from when people (like other animals) ate what they had when they had it.

We don't need to do that anymore. We're fat.

Interestingly, our dog Copper does the "shovel" bit also. Put food into his dish and before you can shut the food container he will be done eating. "Inhaling" is maybe a better word for Copper.

However, Copper does not have control over his portions. We do. So, when he's done, he's done. No refills. Nevertheless, his gulping is not stomach friendly.

Yesterday, Chief went to the pet store to get something. He got something else.

Apparently, our dog is not alone.

Instructions: put into dog bowl. Slows down eating.

Copper is pretty patient with us. When he's patient. I think the look says it all: "What the heck are you guys doing to me now?"